U.S. POLICY TOWARDS GREECE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 7

U.S. POLICY TOWARDS GREECE

State Department Denies Interference

“NOT TAKING OVER BRITISH RESPONSIBILITIES”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. H. 30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 15. ‘7 h „ e i v^ er Jn?n„P rOgra^'T,e re « ardin g Greece is the simple one of g lv ing economic aid m response to an appeal from Greece itself, declared State Department officials in a joint broadcast. It does or interfere in Greece’s internal affars. an imperialistic adventure on our part, the taking over of British responsibilities m that area, or a political job at all. Our assistance moreover will be only temporary, until Greece gets on her feet. The speakers were Mr Willard Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State m charge of Economic Relations, and Mr Henry Willard, deputy chief of the. Office for Middle Eastern Affairs. They contended that the proposal to send equipment and technicians to strengthen the Greek Army was merely to assure that there would be adequate means for maintaining law and order while reconstruction was being accomplished. ilkrd declared: “We could insist, I suppose, that the price to be paid for our economic assistance must be a Government to our liking. We are not going to do that.” The programme director asked: “What would happen if the Greek people themselves swung away from the American concept of a free people?”

Mr Thorp replied: “We are underwriting the Greek people because we believe they are democratic. It is of course their privilege to take some other line. In that case our responsibility ceases.”